Torrington school policy committee reviews student discipline rules

Torrington >> A school board member put his Policy Subcommittee members on the spot Wednesday night, demanding to know "the point" of disciplinary rules that he believes aren't being enforced in the schools.

Andrew Nargi attended the subcommittee's meeting, held at the Migeon Avenue district offices, to hear members discuss a new suspension and expulsion policy that focuses student discipline.

The school district's director of student and professional services, Bill Joslin, presented the updated policy to the committee. It outlines the school district's proper procedures to handle situations such as bullying, cyber-bullying, inappropriate behavior and using profanity.

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The new policy is also a guide for the procedures to follow if a student acts out, uses profanity towards teachers and/or school administrators, and other types of violent behavior. Most importantly, the policy gives clear definitions of what's acceptable, or unacceptable, so teachers, staff, administrators and the Board of Education "are all on the same page," Joslin said. The policies apply mostly to Torrington High School students, but are for the entire district.

The policy includes procedures for cyberbullying, violent behavior and students showing inappropriate signs of affection -- kissing openly in the hallway versus just holding hands, for example. Joslin asked the committee to look over each item and compare them to the present policy.

However, committee member Andrew Nargi questioned the effectiveness of the policy, saying the procedures and protocols were useless and that they are not always enforced.

Nargi questioned the point of having the policy if not everyone in the Torrington school district is strict enough about enforcing discipline.

Superintendent Cheryl Kloczko responded to Nargi's concerns, saying when situations arise -- a student walks out of the classroom angry, for example -- the teacher immediately alerts the main office, a hall monitor and a school security officer, who is expected to bring the student into the principal's office where they can calmly talk to the student and diffuse the situation.

Whenever a disciplinary incident takes place, teachers are required to fill out a form that Klozcko receives to assess the situation and to make sure proper protocols took place, and complied with the policy.

The committee is expected to vote on the updated policy at a future meeting.